News

Bmi drops business class

BMI WILL abandon business class and free meals on all short-haul European flights, bar four key routes, from Heathrow from August 1. Industry insiders cite falling seat sales in the business-travel sector as the reason for the move towards an EasyJet-style service.

The new service, described as “Europe’s first modular airline” will make savings of £30m, but dismayed aircrew, now responsible for cleaning cabins, have accused BMI of turning the second-largest carrier out of Heathrow into something more like the low-cost carrier BMI Baby.

“The mood today was terrible — some crew were actually in tears,” said one employee of the airline.

“If we had wanted to work for a low-cost airline, we would be wearing orange, not Jaeger.”

The business class cabin will only remain on routes from Heathrow to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Belfast and Brussels.

Those who insist on free drinks might consider Fly First’s new service between Luton and